Automatic liquid extractor



'Gilt'. 18, 1932. L. W, BRQWNE 1,882,761

AUTOMATIC LIQUID EXTRACTOR E nin-"num li la WE1? Dwna ATTORNEYS.

L, W. BRQWNE 1,882,761

AUTOMATIC LIQUID EXTRACTOR Filed Nov 25.f 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

L Hle VY'. Br' owne A ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 18, 1932 unir-ea sfr-Ares PATENr onere E LYLE' W".v BRO'WN'E, OFMARSHALLTOWN'; IOWA, ASSIGNOR T0 THE FISHER' GOVERNOR COMPANY; INC.,` 'OElllllIARS'HA'LLTOTN,` IOWA.,A A CORPORATION AUTOMATIC. LIQUID.-EXKIRACTOR` Application-filed;November'25, 1929. Serial No. 409,709.

rlhis invention relates to. improvements in automatic luidfextractors for the removal of liquids from a Zone of lw'pressure to .azone of higher pressure. e

The primary object `of this invention is the provision of anI improved. vacuum trap or fluid extractor embodying the general charf acteristics of the trapset forth. in AU. S. patent application, Serial No. 63,198',filed October 17, 1925, and being improved thereover in the provision of, rsta variable pressure equalizing connection between the trap chamber and the low pressure zone from which it is desired to extract the liquid.; second',` the.. prof" vision of an improved pressure control valve;

andthird,the provisionof an improved float mechanism, the leverage of which may be suitably adjusted for efficient operation ofthe pressure control valve under -variable conditions of pressure.

Other objects and advantages ofthis invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanyingdrawings, forminga part of this specification, and whereinsimilar reference characters designate kcorresponding parts throughout the several'views,

Figure 1 is a vertical'sectionallview taken through the improved vacuum trap.-

Figures 2, 3, 4 and 6 are sectional views taken substantially on their respective lines in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Figure 5 isa side view of'a valve stem guide and supporting member used with'this invention.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view` showing the relation in which the improved fluid extractor is connected with respect-to vacuum and discharge connections. e

1n the drawings, wherein for the purpose' of illustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally designate .the improved automatic liquid extractor, which may be, used for the purpose of withdrawing liquid from'vario'us apparatus, such as shown in the (zo-pending application above referred to, and inv `the present case showing its connection'with're-l spect to a tank B wherein a subfatmospheric pressure exists.

The automatic fluid extractor or trap. includes a casing 10, preferably of cast iron, comprising a bottom 11 having the upstand'- ing walls 12 surrounding the same and provided with a top wall 131 It d'enes a trap chamber 14 for receiving liquid from an inlet line 15 which connects with the tank B or any` other vacuum source. The top wall 12 is :provided with a relatively large `opening 14a therein, upon which a cast iron cover 15Tt is detachably connected at 16 in anyV preerredVA manner. If found necessary suitable gaskets may be provided to insure a leakproof connection about the opening 14a. The cover 15y is provided with a substantially central raisedl portion 17 havingan axial opening. 18 extending through the cover, wherein pressure control valve details are adaptedto seat, as will be subsequentlynien tioned. On top ofthe raised portion 17an inverted cup-shaped cap 20 is detachably supi ported and connected to the cover 15a bybolt means 21 shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. There is provided a pressure compartment 23^Which may appropriately be referred to asia. pressure chest. The closure 15a is provided with a .duct 25 radially extending therethrough into the pressure chest compartmentf23', and the closure 15a is provided with a screw-threaded opening 26 wherein an actuating pressure line 27 is detachablycon nected for discharging its contents into the duct 525. This line 27 is adaptedto receive air, gas, or steam. as the pressure medium, and itis preferablyv provided with a strainer 28 of any approved type.`

The inlet line 15 has connection at 16 with thegzbottom of the vacuum tankB-and hori-v zontally connects at 30 ink one. end wall-120i thescasing- 10 near the bottom V11 for/the purpose ofV discharging liquid, trapped'from the tank-B, into the trap compartment 14. yA delecto-r or baille 31 is preferably eastwith the casingv 10, extendingv across the? inlet'of thev line 15 and bein g spa-ced slightly fr'or'nthe bottom, as shown in the drawings. T hirrlet line 15 of course has a check valve structuref33 including a valve 311-, pivoted at'35,

g and permitting ,liquidA to enter thevcomp'ar'tl provided a discharge line 36, comiected at 37; the discharge line 36 having a vertical riser portion 36a therein for the purpose of creating a liquid seal to prevent infiltration of air into the trap compartment or chaml, ber. This dicharge line 36 is provided with a check valve 38, the valve member 39 of which is movably connected at 40 in such relation that liquid is permitted to iiow from the chamber 14 and not return thereto.

As has been described in the co-pending application above mentioned, liquid will be permitted to enter the trap compartment from the tank B through the line 15, linasmuch as there is an equalization of pressure in the chambers of the tank B and trap A. However, due to the high pressure existing in the discharge line 36 and the storage source to which the liquid is to be discharged, it is quite apparent that there is no possibility of discharge of the entrapped liquid from the chamber 14 through the discharge line to the storage source until an equal or greater pressure exists in the chamber 14 than the discharge'line 36. For the purpose of con- -\f;; trolling actuating pressure, novel oat actuated valve mechanism E is provided, which permits the greater pressure from the chest 20 to pass into the chamber 14.

Referring to the valve mechanism for regulating inlet of pressure, a hollow valve seat is screw threaded in the passageway 46 of the upper cylindrical extension v47 of a cast iron valve support and guide member 48. The member 48 is provided with an attachf1 ing flange 44 which is bolted at 50 to the under side of the cover 15, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings ,the support 48 being particularly detailed in Figure 5 of the drawings. It includes a depending shank 51 from one side'of which horizontally eX- tending valve stem guide arms 52 project, and from the lower end of which a float pivot supporting arm 53 extends in an opposite direction. A pressure controlling valve meinber 55 is supported on the seat 45, having a depending valve stem assemblage consisting of a pair of valve stem parts 57 inV alignment, which are guided through the arm portions 52 of the support, asshown in Figure 2 of the drawings. The valve stem parts 57 between the guide arms 52 detachably support a transversely apertured connection 60, through which a portion of the counterweight means, to be subsequently described, extends to counterbalance the dead weight of the parts of the valve mechanisms and float assemblage.

t its lower end the valve stem portion 57 detachably supports a vertically elongated stirrup 62, having a vertically elongated opening 63 therethrough; the end surfaces The depending shank 51 between the guide arms 52 pivotally supports at 67 a counterbalancing weight. The counterbalancing weight includes a substantially V-shaped arm 70, pivoted between its ends at the connection 67 above mentioned, one end extending slidably through the opening of the valve stem connection above mentioned, the other end extending into an upper corner of the tank chamber for adjustably supporting a weight 72, which may be adjusted on the end of the arm or lever 70 by a set screw 73. It is perfectly apparent that the weight 72 actsnorinally to unseat the pressure control valve 55, and its purpose is to bala-nce the dead weight of the valve details and in some instances a portion of the float arm mechamsm.

Referring to the float for actuating the pressure control valve, the end wall 12 of the casing 10 is provided with a screw threaded opening therein, detachably receiving a tubular extension 81 which projects from the casing 10 and has a detachable cap A82 screw threaded thereon at its outer end. rlhe arm 53 of the supporting device 48 adjacent the wall l2 is provided withk a depending shank having a square'or other non-circular opening 84 therein, axially Valigning with the passageway through the tubular extension 81, wherein an adjustable float supporting member 85 is horizontall slidab-le` This member 85 is non-rotatab e in the opening 84 since, as shown from Figure 6, it has the same cross section as the opening 84. At its end facing the chamber 14 the horizontal 'I' slidable support 85 is provided with a detachable depending connection 87, the lower bifurcated end of which pivotally connects an end of the float arm 64, as at 88. The float arm 64 at its end opposite the pivot 88 is of course provided with a float v of any approved character, which may be detachable if found desirable.

It is the purpose in so mounting the float that the pivot 88 thereof may be moved towards or away from the supporting member 62 to increase or decreasethe leverage action which the iioat mechanism has upon the pressure control valve mechanism. Y

an adjusting screw is provided, having an outer screw threaded portion 96, which is screw threaded at 97 within a screw threaded opening axially of the cap 82,V as shown in In order te effect and maintain Vthe desired adjustment,

bular extension 81 the screw 95 has another screw threaded portion 100, which is oppo- '100 of the screw 95 is threaded. A centering stem 104 may be adjustable in a suitable socket provided in the slide 85, as shown in Eigure 4.

In order to equalize the pressure in the vacuum tank B and trap'chamber A, a connecting line 110 is attached tothe upper portion ot the tank B and to the topfo the casing 10, as shown in Figure 1. Thisbalance of pressure permits the liquid to readily enter the trap chamber'14. In order to vary the effective communication between the trap A and tank B through the line 100, a globe valve 112 has been provided, which will enable a variable communication to be established, according to conditions which require that the communication be accurately adj usted.

With reference to the general operation of the improved device, assuming that a balanced pressure exists in the trap A and tank B, the liquid enters through the line and is prevented from passing the check valve 39 due to the low pressure in the trap chamber 14 and a higherpressure in the discharge line 36. As the liquid rises in the chamber 14 the ioat 90 rises, and when a proper amount of liquid has entered the trap chamber 14 the pressure actuating the iioat 90 will cause a lifting of the valve 55. .The force required to do this does not necessarily have to be great, inasmuch as the valve details are either entirely or partially balanced by the counterweight. Lifting of the valve 55 permits pressure, which has entered the chest through the pressure line 27, to enter the trap chamber 14, shutting the check Valve 34 and opening the check valve 39 and forcing or permitting the liquid to drain from the trap 14 through the discharge line 36. The falling of the iioat arm 64 when the liquid has reached the desired low level will, due to its weight, cause the valve to close. Thereafter the slow leak line connection 110 vper- -mits the higher pressure in the trap chamber 14 to be lowered and equ'alized'with the sub-atmospheric pressure in the tank B, and' the liquid through the line 15 again enters the trap compartment.

The provision of a'variable orifice in the equalizing line 110 is highly desirable to meet all existing pressure and vacuum conditions. When a low actuating pressure is used to dis'- .charge the fluid fromA the trap it has been found that, the variable leak valve 112 Should be opened to a considerable extent, without theserous loss 0i actuating Pressure Passing through the equalizing line 110 into the vacuum 1tank B; In case a. high actuated pres- 'i sure is used, the variable leak valve is substantially closed, thus preventing the excessive loss of actuating pressure through the equalziug line, and correspondingly preventing thelowering of vacuum in the receiver-er tank B. Thus, a Aflexibility of control is provided which is a considerable imi yagainst thel upper chisel edge of the stirrup 62, quickly snapping the valve 55 open to admit pressure to the trap compartment for discharge of liquid therefrom. The valve 55 remains open during discharge of liquid from the trap, due to the vfact that the counterweight holds it open, until the valve arm 64 has lowered to the extent where it will contact the lower chisel edge facing the opening 63 of the stirrup 62, and gravitating downwardly will cause the valve 55 to be snapped shut. y The fact that the fulcrum point '88 may be variably adjusted with respect to the stirrup 62 of the vali/'e mechanism permits the device to operate efficiently under various actuating pressures. If this were not the case the float mechanism might be able to close the pressure control valve for a high actuating pressure but not be able to reopen it again due to insuilicient leverage force under buoyancy. Also for a low actuating pressure the float mechanism if not adjustable might be able to open the valve, but the weight of the float and float arm might not be suiiicient to balance the counterweight and close the valve.A Vhen the actuating pressure in the line 27 is low, the adjustable screw 95 is adjusted out of the cap 82 to its farthest extent, or to the extent desired.' This decreases the leverage of the float arm 64 in its actuation upon the valve mechanism, to the extent required for a low actuating pressure. Should the actuating pressure in the line 27 'be high, it will then be necessaryto adjust the screw 95 into the cap 82, in order to increase the leverage of the float arm. It is to be notedthat there is ailower triangular portion on the float arm 64 adjacent its `fulcrum connection, the lower edge of .which is horizontally posip tioned 'when Ithe float arm' 64 is'lowered to the lowest extent desired. rI`his edge 115 cooperates on'the lower chisel edge of the stirrup 62, as shown in Figure l, and maintains the float in the same horizontal plane, regardless of the adjustment of the fulcrum forl a high or low actuating pressure.

In the provision of the counterweight mechanism, which balances or partially balances the valve parts and float parts, the

' necessity of compensating for the weight of these parts thru the adjusting screw 95 is eliminated. Also the counterbalancing weight increases the available or effective buoyancy of the float mechanism due to the fact that it is unnecessary for the float to sup- 1)ort the entire weight of the valve mechanism during actuation.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement o parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim: A

1. In a liquidV extractor of the class described a casing having a chamber therein, check valve controlled inlet and outlet means ior regulating admission and extraction oi liquids with respect to the chamber, a variably regulatable'low pressure equalizing connection with the casing chamber, a high pressure inlet control valve for the casing placed so that the pressure is exerted thereon to n vrmally maintain. the valve closed, float means in the casing having an operative connection with the pressure inlet valveV for opening the latter at a. predetermined high level ot' liquid in the casing to admit air or gas for driving the liquid from the chamber, said loat means having pivotal mounting in said casing spaced from the operative connection of the float means with said valve, and means for moving the effective pivot axis of said `float means towards or away from the operative connection or' the float means with said valve to increase or decrease the leverage action of the float means upon said valve.

2. In a fluid extractor of the class described thecombination of a. trap casing having a liquid trap chamber therein, check valve controlled inlet and outlet connections for the casing, a pressure control valve for admitting discharge pressures into the casing for discharging liquid therefrom, a float arm having a float therein, a movable member to which the arm is lxedly pivoted, means connected with the pressure control valve having an elongated opening through which the float arm extends at a point between the iloat and its pivot connection with said member whereby the float arm at a. predetermined high level of liquid will cause an opening of the valve and at a predetermined low level of liquid will cause a closing of the valve, and means for moving said member towards or away from the opening through which said ioat arm extends whereby to increase or decrease the eective leverage action of the ioat arm upon said pressure control valve.

3. In a fluid extractor of the class described the combination of a trap casing having a liquid trap chamber therein, check valve controlled inlet and outlet connections for the casing, a high pressure control valve for admitting discharge pressures into the casing for discharging liquid therefrom, a lloat arm having a float therein and having a pivot connection in the casing, a member connected with the pressure control valve having an elongated opening through which the float arm extends at a point between the float and its pivot connection whereby the loat arm at a predetermined high level of liquid will cause an opening of the valve and at a predetermined low level of liquid will cause a closing of the valve, means for adjusting the pivot of the float arm towards or away from the member connected with said float arm whereby to increase or decrease the eliective leverage action of the float arm upon said pressure control valve, and counterweight means acting on the pressure control valve normally tending to open the same against the dead weight of the pressure control valve.

4. In a fluid extractor of the class described a trap chamber having inlet and outlet connections for admission and exit of liquid with respect thereto, check valves for said inlet and outlet connections for admitting and permitting discharge of liquid with respect to the trap casing, a discharge pressure control valve for the casing, float means including a float arm having a loose operative connection with said pressure control valve for snapping theY same open at a predetermined high level ofliquid in the casing and snapping the same closed at a predetermined low level of liquid in the casing, means establishing a pivot mounting for the lloat arm inthe casing and at a point spaced from theconnection of the float arm with said pressure control valve, means adjustable from exteriorly of the casing for variably positioning the eilective pivot axis of the iioat arm towards or away from the connection of the float arm with said pressure control valve, said loat arm and pressure control valve connectionV with the float arm being constructed to permit the iioat arm pivot axis to be regulated with increased or decreased leverage action on the pressure control valve without destroying the effective level of the float arm with respect to the trap casing.

5. In a trap of the class described the combination of a casing having check valve controlled liquid inlets and outlets, a high pressure admission control valve mechanism for the casing, a lever pivoted between its ends upon the casing having a movable connection at one end directly with said control valve mechanism, a sliding counterweight on the other end of the said lever at the opc posite side of its pivot With respect to its connection With said valve, means to adjustably clamp the counterweight at a desired location along the lever to balance the Weight of the parts of the valve7 and float means directly connected With said valve mechanism independent of any connection with said lever for opening and closing the valve.

6. In a trap of the class described the combination of a casing having check valve control liquid inlets and outlets, a high pressure admission control valve for the casing, counter balance means normally tending to open the valve and balance the Weight of the parts thereof, Huid actuated i'loat means in the casing for opening and closing said valve, and means for increasing and decreasing the forced action of the iioat means upon said valve proportionate to the pressure acting against said valve.

7 In a device of the class described the combination of a casing having a chamber therein, a pressure chest, a valve structure for controlling flow of the pressure medium between the casing and the pressure chest, float means for opening and closing the valve structure including a float arm having a movable connection intermediate its ends with said valve structure, means establishing a pivot mounting for the float arm in the casing, means adjustable from exteriorly of the casing for variably positioning the eective pivot axis of the float arm towards or away from the movable connection of the float arm with the valve structure, said ioat arm having a substantially straight edge at its connection With the valve structure which is substantially positioned parallel with the line along which the pivot axis of the float arm may be adjusted so as to permit the float arm to be moved to increase or decrease the leverage action of it upon the valve structure Without destroying uniformity of level of the oat portion of'the arm.

LYLE W. BROWNE. 

